Just when we think we have it all covered, out comes Dry Creek Vineyard with another bunch of new wines.
It would be very easy to just pass them by, but they are much too good of a value. We call your attention to the Dry Creek wines because they are far and away among the best wines coming from Sonoma County, Calif.
Another important fact worth noting is that while most of the country is sweltering under abnormal and seemingly never-ending heat, the grape growing districts of Northern California have not been adversely effected. In fact, as far as the grape growing goes, Mother Nature has been quite friendly. People in the area, however, are keeping their fingers crossed and are praying that the heat wave does not settle on the wine country.
If you are a fan of California wines, stock up now, just in case there is a dramatic change in the weather and the heat fries the grapes while they are still on the vine. This would cause scarcity, and wine prices would rise.
Dry Creek Valley 2001 Sauvignon Blanc ($16)This is a very easy drinking wine that is typical of a better California sauvignon blanc.
The aroma stresses lemongrass, citrus zest and pineapple, while the flavor reprises the aroma with the addition of lemon rind and tropical fruits. There is also a bit of sweetness derived solely from the grape clone used to make this wine. It raises it from the ordinary to the position of an impeccable and memorable sipping wine.
The Dry Creek Valley 2001 Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect wine to accompany shell fish and other lightly prepared seafood dishes. It is also a wine to serve with summer-fresh fruit salads - with or without mild cheese - and pasta dishes with light white sauces.
Dry Creek Valley 2009 Foggy Oaks Vineyard Chardonnay ($20)To begin with, this wine is not one of those boring chardonnays that are so common in the marketplace today.
The fruit for this wine came from the Foggy Oaks Vineyard, a place where some of the best chardonnay grapes in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County are grown.
It is a wine in which the fruit is boldly expressed both in the aroma and the flavor. The aroma stresses melon and honeysuckle, coupled with a mélange of tropical fruits, summer flowers and citrus. The flavor takes a completely different turn, centering on apricot, pineapple, oak and vanilla that carry through to the long finish.
This wine is a true California chardonnay - big fruit, big flavor and definitely enjoyable. The wine also fits nicely in the price and quality niche that makes it a great buy for the quality offered.
Dry Creek Vineyard 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel ($30)The grapes for this wine come from vines that are, on average, 90 years old, with some grapes coming from vines that are 110 years old.
The Dry Creek Vineyard 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel is a wine which exalts the aromas of blackberry, raspberry and cherries. The flavor mirrors the aroma with the addition of chocolate and roasted coffee, along with a deep earthy flavor and a background of vanilla with a suggestion of mint.
There is also an element of oak derived from eighteen months of aging in oak barrels to add further interest and complexity, along with just the right amount of tannin to make sure the wine will age well over the next few years.
The finish mirrors the flavor and lasts for an incredibly long time.
While this zinfandel is a worthwhile accompaniment to almost any meat dish, it is definitely the king of the backyard barbecue, where it can beautifully accompany anything that comes off of the grill.
We found this wine to be one of the best of the vintage that we have tasted to date and can recommend it to you without reservation.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and helps manage ArticlesOnWine.com with his wife, Sheila. He can be reached at frojhe@suddenlink.net.[[In-content Ad]]
